September International Break: What Are The Biggest Games?

It is time for another round of international matches. As the 2026 FIFA World Cup draws nearer, we are going to be getting a lot more high-octane tactical battles, as no team would want to miss such a monumental tournament.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is going to be the first one in the new expanded format, as well as the first one with multiple hosts since the 2002 Korea/Japan tourney. There is a lot of history to be made, and attendance alone is good enough for many teams.

The September 2025 international break is where this journey starts for some and progresses for others. Here are the matches from this break that would be most looked out for.

Spain v Türki̇ye — September 7

Spain and Türki̇ye have not faced each other since 2016, making this upcoming match a decade in the making. It is a one-sided fixture, however, as La Roja have defeated them six times and drawn them four times out of 12 meetings in their history.

With a Barcelona core, Luis De La Fuente will be going up against one of the most exciting Türki̇ye sides in recent history. We will be watching to see if De La Fuente’s decision to give Barcelona’s men a starring role in his setup will pay off as the one-time World Cup winners look to win their first qualifier match.

Serbia v England — September 9

England is probably the most followed national football team in the world, no small thanks to their football culture and leagues that have become huge marketing successes. Every selection by any man who is chosen to be the manager of the Three Lions squad always draws attention. This time around, a few names made the team, which have divided opinions once again. It is obvious that Thomas Tuchel is looking to test as many players as he can, but with Serbia as their first opponents, the German could be in for a whole lot of scrutiny if his experiments don’t yield positive results. Fans and media will be keeping a close eye on this one.

Brazil v Chile — September 5

Brazil has already qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States of America. Every match they play in every international break until the tournament comes and goes will be a test match. Carlo Ancelotti is still settling in as Brazil’s manager, and there are already people discrediting his work so far.

This fixture, which is against one of South America’s giants, could prove to be a monumental one for the former Italy national team manager. He has made selections like Tuchel did for England to try out new players. His tactics – and the players – will be on trial for the whole of Brazil to see, thanks to the fixture happening at the famous Maracanã ground.

South Africa v Nigeria — September 9

Nigeria, one of the world’s most recognisable football nations, is on the verge of missing out on the FIFA World Cup for the second straight tournament. However, their September World Cup qualifier matches could change their fate. They face Rwanda before South Africa, but while both are especially important for Erci Chelle and his men, South Africa is a rivalry.

The deep-seated drive to punish the other team is always present whenever the men’s team or the women’s team of these two sides meet. If either side can deny the other participation and do it while securing their own ticket, it will be a big win for either side. The tension is as palpable as it can get already, making the first blast of the whistle on 9 September signalling the start of their latest clash, one to look forward to.

Slovakia v Germany — September 4

Julian Nagelsmann has invited a few new faces to the Germany squad as he continues to tinker with it to find the best team he can build from the pool of talent available to him. Germany has flattered under the former Bayern Munich manager but has failed to really produce anything of substance. Now, with a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup at stake, Nagelsmann will be closely watched to see if, indeed, he is the future of Die Mannschaft.